Mechanical Engineering with Building Services

Study type:Part-time Languages: English
Local:$ 9.7 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 20 k / Year(s)  
StudyQA ranking:5669 Duration:12 months

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Mechanical Engineering offers a number of MSc courses all accredited by professional institutes as appropriate additional academic study (further learning) for those seeking to become qualified to register as Chartered Engineers (CEng). Accrediting professional institutes vary by course and include the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Energy Institute (EI) and Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Teaching in the courses is underpinned by research activities in aerospace engineering, automotive/motorsport engineering, solid and fluid mechanics, and energy & environment. Staff generate numerous publications, conference presentations and patents, and have links with a wide range of institutions both within and outside the UK. The discipline benefits from research collaboration with numerous outside organisations including major oil companies, vehicle manufacturers, and other leading industrial firms and governmental laboratories. We have links with at least six teaching hospitals and work with universities in China, Poland, Egypt, Turkey, Denmark, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Italy and the US.

The Aims

Building services engineering is an interdisciplinary profession. It involves the specification, design, installation and management of all the engineering services associated with the built environment. With the growing complexity of engineering services in modern buildings and the significance of energy conservation and emissions control, the role of the building services engineer is becoming increasingly important. In addition, the need to provide an internal environment that balances the comfort needs of the occupants with the functional requirements of the building calls for engineers with a wide range of knowledge and skills.

The aim of the programme is to respond to the worldwide demand for building services engineers who have a sound knowledge of engineering principles and the ability to apply this knowledge to the complex situations prevailing within the building services industry.

The Building Services Engineering course is of particular relevance to engineers who want to develop technical understanding and expertise across the multi-disciplines of Building Services Engineering.

Modes of Study

1 Year Full-Time The taught element of the course (September to April) includes seven modules; delivery will be by a combination of lectures, tutorials and group/seminar work. A further four months (May to September) is spent undertaking the dissertation.
3-5 Years Distance Learning The distance learning programme is designed to enable you to conduct most of your studies at home, in your own time and at your own pace. There is no requirement to attend lectures at Brunel University and there is no set timetable of lectures, instead you follow a structured programme of self-study at home or at work. This gives you the freedom to arrange a work programme to suit yourself and you should usually allow about twelve hours each week for study. There are set submission dates for assignments but we have tried to design the programme so that they are well-spaced, giving you the maximum flexibility in your study plans.
Students can take between 3 and 5 years to complete the course. The average is 3 years, with students taking four modules in the first year, three modules in the second year and the dissertation in the third year. However, depending on your other commitments you can take longer up to a maximum of 5 years. Students are supplied with a study pack in the form of text books and CD-ROMs; you have assignments to submit and exams to sit each year. Examinations can be taken either at Brunel University or in the country you are resident in. We have an extensive network of organisations (Universities, Colleges and British Council Offices) throughout the world who will provide invigilation services. The cost of invigilation away from Brunel is your responsibility. Examinations are held in May each year.

Typical Modules

The course comprises four core modules, three technical modules and a dissertation. The taught modules are:

Core Modules

Building Heat Transfer and Air Conditioning (15 credits)

* Building Heat Transfer analyses the various mechanisms of heat transfer appropriate to buildings and the principles of heating and cooling load calculations. Areas covered include solar gains, fabric heat transmission, infiltration, effects of moisture content, methods of heating and cooling load calculations, CIBSE admittance procedure, condensation and finite difference techniques.


* Air Conditioning covers the principles of psychometrics and the design of air conditioning systems. Emphasis is placed on the properties of humid air, thermal comfort, inside and outside design conditions. Air Conditioning design includes air and water, all water systems and unitary equipment.



Electrical Services and Lighting Design (15 credits)

* Electrical Services covers aspects of electrical energy supply, electricity tariffs, switchgear and the design of electrical installations to satisfy lEE Wiring Regulations. Also covered are the principles of electrical machines and power electronic devices used in building services applications.


* Lighting Design considers the human visual system, the nature and control of light, photometric units, lighting calculations, interior lighting design, daylighting, lamps and luminaires and energy efficiency aspects of lighting systems.



Acoustics, Fire, Drainage and Lifts (15 credits)

* Acoustics covers the basic terms and physical principles, sound power and intensity, the ear and hearing, propagation of noise, legal requirements and noise standards, room acoustics, sound generation in services systems, and vibration isolation.


* Fire, Drainage and Lifts considers fire and smoke control, sanitation and waste disposal, industrial ventilation and exhaust requirements, lift and escalator design, space allowance for building services, commissioning and testing.



Energy Conversion Technologies (15 credits)

* This element provides a broad introduction to the principles of energy conversion and thermodynamic machines and demonstrates their application to energy conversion and management in buildings. Emphasis is placed on refrigeration plant, energy conversion plant and energy management.


* Refrigeration covers the basic principles and components of vapour compression systems, heat pumps and absorption systems.


* Energy Conversion considers power cycles, combined heat and power, combustion processes, boiler plant, thermal energy storage and environmental impacts of plant operation.



Dissertation (60 credits)

The dissertation is a stimulating and challenging part of each MSc course. Dissertations may be carried out on any approved topic related to the building services industry. Essentially the dissertation gives the student the opportunity to apply the techniques and disciplines covered in the taught course to a topic of their own interest, of interest to a sponsoring or industrial organisation, or of research interest. Some recent dissertations include:

* Fan Coil Unit System VS Chilled Beam System in a Typical Office Building


* Energy Performance of a Dwelling in Malta


* Efficacy of Hollow Core Cooling in Maun Hospital Botswana


* Experimental Investigation of Air-side Heat Transfer and Hydraulic Behaviours of Microchannels Heat Exchanger


* Use of Phase Change Material for Summer Cooling of Buildings in a Moderate Climate: An Experimental Study of a Test-Cell


* Energy optimisation in buildings and HVAC systems using BMS



Technical Modules

Building Management and ControlSystems (15 credits)

This element considers the basic theory of instrumentation, control and communications and applies the theory to the control of HVAC plant and building management systems. It includes measurement and instrumentation, revision of control theory, control components and control systems related to services installations. Communications covers principles of signal interfacing, standards and codes of practice, and real time data transfer. Building Management Systems considers the basic principles of building management, components and controls, applications, integration, operation and maintenance.

Fluid Services and Heat Transfer Equipment (15 credits)

This element considers the design and selection of heat transfer equipment for building services applications and the principles of design of air and water distribution systems within buildings. It includes:

* the heat transfer processes in various types of heat exchangers, cooling and heating coils, condensers and evaporators;


* cold water demand and supply, hot water services, low, medium and high temperature water systems, chilled and dual temperature systems, pipe sizing and pump selection, system testing and balancing;


* duct design methods, duct design considerations - low and high velocity systems, fan characteristics and fan selection, system testing and balancing.



Building Services Design and Management(30 credits)

This module consists of the following elements:

* Sustainable Design considers the effects of engineering design solutions on the internal and external environments.


* Project Management considers management of physical assets, maintenance standards, health and safety and risk assessment. .


* Building Services Design provides specialist knowledge of the building services design organisation process and experience in the design of integrated building services systems.

A UK first or second class Honours degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification usually in engineering or other appropriate science and technology subject areas. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

  • ✔️ Flexible study schedule
  • ✔️ Experienced teachers
  • ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

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The Brunel International Scholarship

The Brunel International Scholarship is an annual award scheme designed to promote talent and encourage excellence in scholars coming to Brunel from around the globe. For 2010/11, 35 awards of either £3,000 or £2,000 are available to both undergraduate and postgraduate students who have been offered a place on a full-time course at Brunel.

All applications must be submitted online before 26 May 2010.

Bursaries

Bursaries may be available from your School, and your course director once you have secured and accepted a place on a course for information on any funding opportunities.

* A limited number of part-scholarships of £1,500 are available for the MA programmes in Music and Drama. Details will be sent to candidates who have confirmed their intention to study at Brunel in the 2010/11 academic year.
* The Leaders of Tomorrow PhD Bursary in Human Centred Design is supported by a donation from Brunel graduate and philanthropist Peter Ilori. The bursary provides £5,000 of financial support towards the study fees of high-achieving graduates who wish to pursue a PhD in Human Centred Design. Selection is based on the quality of applicants´ PhD study proposal.

Extra-curricular scholarships

Extra-curricular scholarships do not cover living costs or tuition fees. They are available to both taught and research students.

A number of Music Awards to help cover music tuition costs are made each year to students who are not studying music performance as part of their academic course.

The Brunel Sports Scholarship helps elite performance athletes by supporting their academic study and sporting needs simultaneously.

Accreditation

These courses are approved by the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Energy Institute (EI) as appropriate additional academic study (further learning) for those seeking to become qualified to register as Chartered Engineers (CEng).

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